This article contains spoilers for Margo’s Got Money Troubles Episode 4
Margo’s Got Money Troubles continues its focus on performance and identity in Episode 4, releasing on Apple TV on April 22. Written by Eva Anderson, the episode balances its more provocative premise with a surprisingly tender exploration of family, ambition, and self-definition.
Margo’s (Elle Fanning) online venture continues to evolve in ways that are equal parts inventive and foreshadow the troubles that await her once her content properly kicks off. Her niche – rating male genitalia through Pokémon references – sounds absurd but surprisingly works. With 196 fans, she is no longer shouting into the void, though it is far from stable success. “Buddies” forces her to confront that talent alone is not enough. Visibility is everything, and that tension drives much of the episode’s momentum, not just for Margo but for the wider ensemble.
Her relationship with roommate Susie (Thaddea Graham) remains one of the show’s most engaging dynamics – of which there are plenty. Their initial photoshoot, where Margo sits topless with “Boobs” scrawled across her chest, walks a careful line. It could easily veer into cheap provocation, but instead plays as a mix of vulnerability, humour, and calculated branding.
The episode’s central conflict emerges when Margo realises she needs to collaborate with more established creators to grow. Her fixation on WangMangler99 and her blunt attempt to buy into their circle are both cringeworthy and somewhat relatable. The quick “Ha ha” dismissal she receives should humiliate her, but Margo barrels ahead regardless, accepting their later invitation to meet in person.
When Margo meets the creators, the encounter plays out with an awkward realism that the show excels at. WangMangler’s (Rico Nasty) immediate rejection contrasts with SucculentRose’s (Lindsey Normington) more measured scepticism. Their concern that Margo might be a liability is not surprising given her inexperience, though it does not take long for her to sweeten the deal. By promising concepts to drive their numbers up, Margo highlights that we may all be underestimating her.
Focus then returns to Jinx (Nick Offerman), whose scenes with Bodhi and Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) are unexpectedly affecting. Watching wrestling clips with Bodhi, calming him with a knee-bending trick, and navigating an awkward cake-tasting with Shyanne all present Jinx as a man trying – clumsily but sincerely – to reconnect with a life he abandoned. Shyanne’s observation that he does not truly know Margo, despite the sense of safety she feels around him, is enough to make your chest ache. Pfeiffer and Offerman work exceptionally well together, as if they have been sharing scenes for years. Despite the in-and-out nature of their relationship, the familiarity between the pair easily steals the show once they get going.
That tension between Margo and Jinx finally unravels when he discovers her work. He walks in on Susie photographing her in lingerie, and the screams of horror are hilarious, if understandable. If anything, Margo’s Got Money Troubles does not linger on the mortification long enough. Instead, attention turns to his reaction once she reveals she is on OnlyFans and not dating Susie. Jinx frames her choices as dishonourable, exposing a generational and ideological divide that the show navigates well across its eight episodes. Margo’s response is equally forceful; she grounds her choices in necessity. Neither is entirely right nor wrong.
A guest appearance worth waiting for arrives when Jinx takes Margo to a wrestling convention. The introduction of Lace (Nicole Kidman), a former wrestler with a law degree, adds another entertaining touch to the series. Kidman is vibrant and works well opposite Offerman once the two re-enter the ring for old times’ sake. The tone shifts once more when Jinx ends up on the ring floor, unable to move.
His subsequent conversation with Margo is one of the episode’s most important turning points. He acknowledges his earlier judgment, reframing her work as a form of performance not unlike wrestling. It’s a sweet moment that bridges their perspectives, even if only partially. Jinx’s plan to lie about his history of addiction at the hospital adds further tension. In turn, Margo’s confession that her literature professor is Bodhi’s father deepens the complexity of their dynamic.
“Buddies” closes with another foil to Margo’s identity. Her potential collaboration comes with constraints, and she must build a social media presence. The “HungryGhost” persona suggests additional separation between who she is and who she presents to the world. It is also far easier for a TikTok or Instagram account to go viral, increasing the risk of exposure. Given the introduction of Kidman’s lawyer, she may at least be in safe hands. Mark (Michael Angarano), however, is not when Jinx arrives at Fullerton full of violent intent.
Episode 4 of Margo’s Got Money Troubles is yet another stellar instalment of what is shaping up to be television’s most intriguing series. Fanning, Pfeiffer, and Offerman are once again at the top of their game, delivering performances that could put the show in contention alongside Hacks, The Comeback, and Shrinking – provided Apple TV understands what it has on its hands.
